Michelle Tant

 (November 2016c) As a breastfeeding counsellor I am frequently asked about antenatal hand expressing from a gestation of 37 weeks, regarding both the rationale and technique. Colostrum is the first milk produced and is present during pregnancy and until the mature milk comes through at around 2-3 days. Colostrum is particularly important in the protection of the newborn as it transitions from being inside the uterus in a sterile environment to being on the outside, exposed to the bacteria present in our environment. Colostrum is high in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, bacteria- fighting leukocytes as well as a high concentration of the secretory immunoglobulin A (IGA) which acts as a sort of 100% organic vaccine, protecting the vulnerable membranes in the lungs and gastrointestinal system. Furthermore colostrum acts as an antibacterial paint, sealing off the naturally permeable newborn gut. Speaking of the gastrointestinal system, colostrum acts as a laxative...

(October 2015) I was inspired by a recent study day to refresh myself on breastfeeding A&P and this is the result. I am bowled over time and again by the cleverness of breastfeeding and I am working on a piece about colostrum (honest to goodness the cleverest food ever) which I hope to share at some point but today it’s all about the breast and supply. We will start on the outside with the nipple, or papilla which is a projected part of the breast where the lactiferous ducts end their journey (more on those later!) and the milk comes out. The nipple is surrounded by an areola of varying size, it isn’t important how big it is. It is generally darker than the surrounding breast tissue and this helps the baby to locate the nipple on its first expedition to the breast. The areola has a number of oil secreting glands called (brilliantly I might add) Montgomery’s Tubercles and these help to protect and lubricate the areola. The breast tissue which started to develop in pubert...